In approval, voter satisfaction and candidate characteristics and preferences, all signs are good
for Connecticut Gov. John Rowland in his reelection race with his Democratic challenger,
U.S. Rep. Barbara Kennelly, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today.

If the election for governor were held today, Gov. Rowland tops Rep. Kennelly 56 - 32
percent, the same 24-point lead he held in an April 1 poll by the independent Quinnipiac
College. Rowland and Kennelly were in a 44 - 43 percent tie in a Nov. 19, 1997, poll.

Rowland's approval rating is 69 - 23 percent and 75 percent of all voters are very
satisfied or somewhat satisfied with life in Connecticut.

Since Rowland become governor, life in Connecticut got better, according to 58 percent
of voters, while 6 percent say it got worse and 33 percent say it stayed the same.

"This poll has some good news for both candidates: Gov. Rowland continues to enjoy a
high approval rating and a big lead over Rep. Kennelly. Kennelly, however, appears to have
stopped her slide in the polls. She trails Rowland by the same number as she did in our last
poll April 1 -- 24 points," said Quinnipiac College Poll Director Douglas Schwartz.

"Kennelly will have a tough time convincing voters to dump the incumbent. People are
satisfied with the way things are going in Connecticut and most say things are better since
Rowland was elected governor.

"Kennelly's recognition is up slightly, but a third of all voters still don't have an
opinion of her. While it's an uphill battle for Kennelly, it's not over," Schwartz said.

Looking at Rowland's personal characteristics, voters say:

79 - 14 percent that he gets things done;

68 - 25 percent that he has a likable personality;

73 - 21 percent that he has strong leadership qualities;

56 - 30 percent that he is honest and trustworthy;

58 - 34 percent that he cares about the needs and problems of voters.

Looking at Kennelly's personal characteristics, voters say:

51 - 20 percent that she gets things done;

60 - 18 percent that she has a likable personality;

51 - 24 percent that she has strong leadership qualities;

62 - 11 percent that she is honest and trustworthy;

61 - 18 percent that she cares about the needs and problems of voters.

"Voters generally think both candidates have strong personal qualities, but there are
differences. Rowland's strengths are that he is perceived as a strong leader and someone who
can get things done. Kennelly's strengths are that she is perceived as someone who is honest
and cares about people's problems," Schwartz said.

Looking at how things will change if Rowland is re-elected, voters say:

"Kennelly does better on education and the environment, while Rowland does better on
taxes and the economy," Schwartz said.

From June 16 - 22, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,088 Connecticut residents who say
they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The Quinnipiac
College Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a
public service and for research.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling his job as
Governor of Connecticut?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Approve 69% 88% 55% 69% 71% 68% 69%

Disapprove 23 8 36 21 24 22 23

DK/NA 8 4 8 10 5 10 8

1a. Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Approve strongly 28% 50% 15% 26% 32% 25% 27%

Approve smwht 41 38 41 43 39 42 42

Disapprove smwht 12 5 22 10 12 12 13

Disapprove strongly 11 4 14 11 12 10 10

DK/NA 8 4 8 10 5 10 8

4. How much attention have you been paying to this year's campaigns for
Governor and United States Senator? A lot, some, only a little or none at all?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

A lot 16% 20% 15% 14% 20% 13% 21%

Some 44 43 47 43 43 44 39

Only a little 29 27 30 31 26 32 29

None at all 10 9 7 12 10 11 11

DK/NA - 1 - - - - -

5. Is your opinion of United States Representative Barbara Kennelly
favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Favorable 27% 16% 44% 23% 24% 30% 28%

Unfavorable 18 31 8 18 22 14 15

Mixed 20 21 21 20 20 20 17

Haven't heard enough 34 31 27 38 33 35 39

REFUSED 1 - - 1 - 1 1

6. Is your opinion of Governor John Rowland favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or
haven't you heard enough about him?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Favorable 50% 70% 35% 50% 55% 46% 53%

Unfavorable 16 6 25 14 16 15 17

Mixed 28 20 34 28 24 30 23

Haven't heard enough 7 5 6 8 4 8 6

REFUSED - - - 1 - - 1

7. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today and the candidates were
John Rowland the Republican, and Barbara Kennelly the Democrat, for whom would you
vote?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Rowland/Republican 56% 85% 30% 61% 63% 51% 55%

Kennelly/Democrat 32 10 59 25 26 36 31

SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 1 1 2 1 1

WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 3 1 1

DK/NA 8 3 9 10 6 10 12

8. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in
Connecticut today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Very satisfied 14% 21% 12% 13% 16% 14% 14%

Smwht satisfied 61 65 62 61 62 61 59

Smwht dissatisfied 17 10 20 17 14 18 19

Very dissatisfied 6 3 6 8 7 6 6

DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 1 1

9. Since John Rowland became governor in January 1995, do you feel that things
in Connecticut have gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Better 58% 74% 47% 57% 64% 53%

Worse 6 2 7 6 5 6

Same 33 21 41 33 27 36

DK/NA 4 3 5 4 3 4

10. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities.
As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to Barbara Kennelly or not?
Would you say that Barbara Kennelly -- can get things done or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 51% 38% 66% 47% 45% 55%

No 20 34 11 19 27 15

DK/NA 29 28 23 34 28 30

11. Would you say that Barbara Kennelly -- has a likable personality or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 60% 53% 69% 60% 57% 63%

No 18 27 13 18 21 17

DK/NA 21 20 18 22 22 20

12. Would you say that Barbara Kennelly -- has strong leadership qualities
or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 51% 40% 63% 49% 43% 57%

No 24 35 16 24 31 18

DK/NA 25 25 21 27 26 25

13. Would you say that Barbara Kennelly -- is honest and trustworthy or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 62% 57% 74% 59% 64% 61%

No 11 15 6 12 12 11

DK/NA 27 28 20 29 24 28

14. Would you say that Barbara Kennelly -- cares about the needs and problems
of people like you or not?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Yes 61% 52% 75% 57% 58% 64% 49%

No 18 26 8 21 21 16 20

DK/NA 21 21 17 22 21 20 31

15. I'm going to read off the same personal characteristics and qualities.
As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to John Rowland or not?
Would you say that John Rowland -- can get things done or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 79% 87% 74% 80% 80% 79%

No 14 8 20 14 15 14

DK/NA 6 5 7 6 6 7

16. Would you say that John Rowland -- has a likable personality or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 68% 84% 55% 69% 68% 68%

No 25 13 37 24 27 24

DK/NA 7 3 9 7 5 8

17. Would you say that John Rowland -- has strong leadership qualities or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 73% 83% 68% 72% 71% 75%

No 21 15 27 20 24 20

DK/NA 5 3 5 8 5 5

18. Would you say that John Rowland -- is honest and trustworthy or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 56% 72% 45% 55% 58% 54%

No 30 16 38 30 29 31

DK/NA 14 11 17 14 13 16

19. Would you say that John Rowland -- cares about the needs and problems
of people like you or not?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Yes 58% 75% 47% 59% 58% 58% 58%

No 34 20 46 31 34 34 34

DK/NA 8 5 7 10 8 8 8

20. Do you think of Barbara Kennelly more as a liberal, moderate, or
conservative?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Liberal 38% 54% 31% 33% 44% 33% 31%

Moderate 32 21 44 31 31 33 31

Conservative 11 6 10 14 8 13 9

DK/NA 19 19 15 22 17 21 29

21. Do you think of John Rowland more as a liberal, moderate, or conservative?

Apr 1
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Liberal 11% 8% 10% 13% 8% 13% 9%

Moderate 42 49 34 44 44 40 43

Conservative 40 39 48 35 42 39 39

DK/NA 7 4 7 8 7 7 9

22a. If Barbara Kennelly is elected governor, do you think taxes will go up, go
down, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Up 32% 47% 20% 33% 39% 27%

Down 7 4 10 7 5 9

Same 47 38 58 45 46 48

DK/NA 13 10 13 15 10 16

23a. If John Rowland is re-elected governor, do you think taxes will go up, go
down, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Up 21% 12% 27% 21% 18% 24%

Down 15 25 8 14 18 12

Same 59 59 60 61 60 59

DK/NA 5 4 5 5 4 5

24a. If Barbara Kennelly is elected governor, do you think the economy will get
better, get worse, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Better 13% 6% 20% 12% 12% 14%

Worse 13 22 5 14 15 11

Same 58 59 60 57 59 58

DK/NA 15 13 15 17 13 17

25a. If John Rowland is re-elected governor, do you think the economy will get
better, get worse, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Better 22% 30% 14% 24% 27% 19%

Worse 7 3 9 7 6 8

Same 64 63 70 62 61 66

DK/NA 6 4 6 7 6 6

26a. If Barbara Kennelly is elected governor, do you think the public schools
will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Better 38% 27% 52% 32% 34% 40%

Worse 6 9 4 5 9 4

Same 41 48 31 46 45 38

DK/NA 15 16 12 16 12 18

27a. If John Rowland is re-elected governor, do you think the public schools
will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Better 20% 24% 16% 20% 18% 21%

Worse 13 6 19 13 15 13

Same 59 63 59 58 61 57

DK/NA 8 7 6 9 6 9

28a. If Barbara Kennelly is elected governor, do you think the environment will
get better, get worse, or stay about the same?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Better 29% 16% 41% 27% 30% 28%

Worse 3 3 2 2 4 2

Same 54 67 44 55 56 53

DK/NA 15 13 13 16 10 18

29a. If John Rowland is re-elected governor, do you think the environment
will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?